We took about a 20 mile ride today up around a local lake. My AC 500, my honda, and my uncle with his 454. At about the turn back point, he started it up, revved the engine, and I noticed a few puffs of black smoke. It would do it any time he revved the engine, but it didn't do it when the bike was going down the trail. It has about 90 miles on it now, and he broke it in veeerrrry easy. All day, he rode with my aunt on back and probably never exceeded 10-15 mph. It seemed as if it wanted to cut out when you first pushed the gas, but did fine in higher rpms, and it never died. The idle was fine too. It has a brand new sparkplug as well. On the way back, I got on it and blew the cobs out. I figured 80 miles is plenty to give it a top speed test.(did mine around 50) It climbed to an indicated 55mph on the straight dirt road. After riding at 25+ for about 20 minutes, it didn't put out as much smoke when you revved it in neutral. It also didn't have that weak cut out feeling when you first pushed the gas from a standstill either.

I don't know much about it, but it didn't look like something good to me. Has anyone had anything similar happen? I'd like to figure this out myself, but they will definitely let the dealer look at it. We have a great dealer, so it should not be a problem. I know mine didn't do this when it had 90 miles on it.

On a lighter note, i was impressed with the speed of the 454. It hit 55 where mine only hit 52(56 one other day). After driving both, I would guess they are close to the same. The larger tires on mine will slow the speedometer just a hair. I don't figure Arctic Cat re-calibrated the speedometer just for the 99 500 either. My cousin and I were going side by side on pavement doing a calibration test, and they were identical at slow speeds. When he got to 40, I was around 38-39 though and we were running at exactly the same speed checking each other as we went. Still though, I figure the 454 will get a bit faster as it gets more broken in. It will probably be faster than my 500 which at 796 miles, is pretty much broken in as good as its going to get.

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Andy Bassham *(1999 Arctic Cat 500 4x4, 1989 Honda 300)*

 

sounds like rich carb jetting, or possibly a restriction of airflow somewhere..maybe the air filter?

 

This thing is about to go back to the dealer again. The same problem persisted today during about 20 minutes of low speed woods riding. My 500 did just like always, but the 454 at the end of the ride was cutting out at low speeds and blew black smoke out when you gassed it up in neutral. Seems like its about to foul another plug. This shouldn't happen at all. It has to be carburation. Thats my guess. I'm advising my uncle to take it back and have them adjust it and try to fix it, and if the problem persists in a couple weeks, to try and get another one. We have a good dealer and they will cooperate with him pretty good. It just pisses me off that he had to get a bike that had problems from the outset, no matter how minor they were. Still wondering if anyone had a persisting problem like this on an arctic cat? I never have.

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Andy Bassham *(1999 Arctic Cat 500 4x4, 1989 Honda 300)*